Every day is filled with uncertainty. You have no idea what's going to happen today, tomorrow, or for that matter next week. We might have a plan, but we have no idea what's going to happen or when it is going to happen.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
God expects us to take risks, but that doesn’t mean he wants us to take foolish risks. The risks we take in life must be ones that God leads us to take.
We continuously see the early church taking risks, laying down their lives, letting go all temporal passions/desires, and living a life of complete faith.
Here are eight important steps to follow as you consider taking any risk:
- Gather the facts (Proverbs 23:23) - Find out what you need to know before you take the risk. Talk to people who’ve already taken a similar step.
- Consider all your options (Proverbs 14:15) - Weight all the different alternatives.
- Analyze the risk (Luke 14:28) - Ask yourself two questions. Is the risk necessary? Is the risk worth it?
- Pray for guidance (James 1:5) -- Let God guide you.
- Visualize the results (Hebrews 11: 1, 27) -- Picture in your mind what God will do once you’ve taken the risk.
- Announce your decision (Romans 4:17) - Make your goal public.
- Let go of the old (James 1:8) - This is the hardest part. You can’t look back. Once you decide you’re ready, move on.
- Take the first step (2 Corinthians 5:7) -- Finally, just do it.
You’ll find that by taking the first step, God will give you faith to take the second.You only need to have faith to take one step at a time. God doesn’t ask us to take leaps of faith. He simply calls us to take the one step that he’s placed before us and, when we are obedient, he guides us to the next step.
We see risk taking throughout the book of Acts and the results revolutionized their lives, the lives of their community, and literally the entire world. Let's be a people that have the courage to step out one step at a time!
I think we sometimes forget that the personalities we read about in the Bible were real flesh and blood human beings. When we read about their exploits, it can seem like we're reading a fairy tale of sorts, and we lose sight of the fact that they had normal lives, at least until they had a revelation experience with God.
ReplyDeleteOnce that took place, however, they were totally transformed and accomplished more than they ever could have imagined.
Take Peter for instance. Here was a guy that hid in the shadows when he was confronted about his beliefs. Now, after the infilling of the Holy Spirit, he is unstoppable.
Then there is Saul/Paul. Bent on destroying the Christian movement that was taking place, he was totally transformed, not only into a believer, but a professor, after his revelation experience.
The same thing took place many times in biblical history. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, all had a revelation experience with God and it changed them. It gave them the confidence to take the risks they were being asked to take. They completely trusted that God would do what He said He would do.
That confidence built on itself after each step that was taken in their walk. God has instilled in us the confidence to obey and follow Him. But it will remain dormant unless we are willing to take the first step.
We must use the confidence that God has put in us through our experience with Him and move forward, and each step will become easier and easier.
JV